Troubled times for Slovenia

(Vatican Radio)-- Slovenia's prime minister Janez Jansa and an opposition leader are fighting for their political life amid calls to resign after the country's anti-corruption watchdog accused them of financial wrongdoing.


The state Commission for the Prevention of Corruption said Jansa has failed to declare over 200,000 euro, some ($26,500) worth of private assets.


It's report also accused opposition leader Zoran Jankovic of corruption. Jankovic, who is also the mayor of capital Ljubljana and one of Slovenia's richest people, allegedly failed to clarify where 2.4 million euro ($3.1 million) of his money came from.

Both men have denied the accusations and refused to step down. They also condemned the commission, which filed the report to the police seeking legal action.

Jansa's center-right coalition partners have urged him to step down and let someone else be the prime minister.

EARLY ELECTIONS?


He has refused, giving them until next week to decide whether to remain in the government or start preparing for early elections.

President Borut Pahor says he wants to meet all parties to find a solution. He also told the president of European Parliament that he seeks stability.


"I informed Mr. President about my most important task back home and this is to create an atmosphere of confidence, to go on with the necessary reforms, and to get out of the crisis that we are facing for years now," he said.


Analysts say early elections will further prolong finding solutions for the financial turmoil, which includes a gross domestic product shrinking by 3.3 percent in the third quarter compared to a year earlier.


That's the third-biggest drop in the euro zone after Greece and Portugal and raises new concerns that more financial aid will be needed to rescue yet another nation.

Listen to this report by Stefan Bos: